Karkar Island
Madang Province
5-12 May 2008
Page 2 - The Island Herps
(excluding husk pile species)

Map showing Karkar Island, Madang Province, PNG.
click to enlarge map

[see also visits to Karkar Island in 1990, 1993, 1994, 2000 & 2006]

The known herpetofauna of Karkar Island has been increasing with every visit to the island. The amphibians and reptiles can be loosely separated into those associated with the coconut husk piles and those found in other habitats, ie. bush, gardens, beach, cocoa trees, coconut palms. The species illustrated here are those not intimately associated with coconut husk piles (click here for husk pile species), although some of them do turn up in husk piles, especially snakes in slough, and neither is this the full compliment of species recorded from other habitats, but rather those species encountered during the 2008 visit to the island.

The Palm gecko (Gekko vittatus) is a common species encountered at night on coconut palms, while Mys' four-fingered skink (Carlia mysi) is in gardens during the day.

LIZARDS from KARKAR ISLAND click on an image to enlarge
Palm gecko, Gekko vittatus
Mys' four-fingered skink, Carlia mysi

The commonest nocturnal snake encountered is the Brown treesnake (Boiga irregularis) but the New Guinea treeboa (Candoia carinata carinata) is fairly frequently encountered in the cocoa trees. Smooth-scaled death adders (Acanthophis laevis) are found in the village gardens and banana groves but although adults were kept for the snakebite project, juveniles which were not suitable for milking and were released.

SNAKES from KARKAR ISLAND click on an image to enlarge
Brown treesnake, Boiga irregularis
New Guinea treeboa, Candoia carinata carinata
Smooth-scaled death adder, Acanthophis laevis

[Page 1 - The Island]
[Page 3 - The Husk Pile Herps]

[see also visits to Karkar Island in 1990, 1993, 1994, 2000 & 2006]